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Web-only letters to the editor, April 22, 2014

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Tuesday April 22, 2014 12:15 PM

Dispatch.com regularly will post letters to the editor that don't make it to print in The Dispatch. Unlike letters to the editor that appear in the newspaper, Web-only letters have not been edited.

Curbing concussions

Concussions are a serious issue for football players of all ages. Researchers and doctors across the country are finding immediate and long-term effects of concussions. The best solution is to take a proactive approach by preventing them before a player sustains one.

Prior to the 2011 season, the NFL introduced a rule that moved the kickoff from the 30-to the 35-yard line, with the intent of causing more touchbacks. The kickoff has been considered the most dangerous play and due to the new rule, there is a 40% less chance of incurring a concussion then. This is a significant reduction that demonstrates more needs to be done in regards to rule changes.

An additional preventative step would be to limit certain drills in practice. A prime example of this would be when linemen go into a three-point stance and blast upward leading with their heads. Drills like this should be kept to a minimum, so that there is a lower potential of getting a concussion at practice.

Fans and players of the game at all levels are passionate about the sport and view the hitting as a necessary evil, but, as mentioned above, minor changes can make it much safer and still maintain its machismo.

Cole Barker, Upper Arlington

Obama's words

The Dispatch has accused President Obama of “demagoguery” and “exploiting women” for citing the often-used statistic that women make 77 cents for every dollar earned by men (Sunday, April 13). Your editorial correctly states that the “77 cents” figure (78 cents in central Ohio) is shorthand for a complicated problem, then presents its own highly selective facets of the complexity.

First of all, your editorial points out that the gap is lower if adjusted for number of hours worked and time taken off for child rearing that postpones pay raises or promotions. But there is still a gap. What good reason is there for any gap at all? And why should so many American men and women have to work so many more than 40 hours a week? Could it be that tradition and habit lead to exploitation of professional workers who find the only way up is to work themselves far harder than in other developed countries?

Second, you talk about women’s career paths as if they are choices made independently of our culture. The same day that you published your editorial, Frank Bruni in the New York Times laid out the complex societal expectations that lead women to juggle multiple demands at great personal cost—and thereby forgo higher compensation in the labor market. The disparity between women’s and men’s child-rearing responsibilities and the workplace policies that treat that as a given perpetuate the crazy lives many women lead trying to balance obligations to family, community and employer.

Third, the editorial ignores a large, struggling segment of the population, namely single women with children stuck in part-time, low-paying jobs who are constantly “on the brink,” as the 2014 Shriver report Paycheck to Paycheck demonstrates. The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio recently reported that 45 percent of women who provide sole support for their families in central Ohio earn less than they need for basic economic security. That is 100,000 women right here. Scraping up enough money to cover housing, food, childcare and the barest necessities is a way of life for them, and a scary, depressing one.

It is not demagoguery for President Obama to use shorthand to rally Ohioans to the facts about economic life in the 21st century. It is not exploitation for women and men to back political candidates who support policies that will help changing American families survive, thrive and contribute fully to economic growth.

Vivian Witkind Davis, Blacklick

Fossil fuels

I am writing to you in response to the April 17th Dispatch article, "Renewable-energy backers tout support in Ohio poll". As a lifelong resident of Ohio, I strongly oppose Senate Bill 310 because it will negatively impact all Ohioans by raising energy costs, cutting jobs, and perpetuating our dependence on fossil fuels.

In the article, Doug Colafella states that currently customers are being taxed each month on their electric bills to fund renewable energy programs and that these taxes amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars extra each year. He fails to mention that independent studies and Public Utilities Commission of Ohio reports confirm that Ohio's current clean energy standards are saving Ohioans money overall by lowering the cost of energy. For every $1 Ohio's utilities invest in energy efficiency, consumers see $3 in savings.

Ohio's Clean Energy Standard currently encourages energy companies to invest in projects that create more clean energy jobs. Already over 25,000 Ohioans work in the clean energy industry and 400 Ohio businesses are involved in the clean energy sector. AEP just released a plan for 2105-2019 that is projected to save their customers alone an additional $1.5 billion and can create over 4,000 new jobs. These current jobs and businesses will be at risk if Senate Bill 310 passes, and AEP will no longer be allowed to implement this plan.

As one of the worst states for pollution in the country, Ohio's environment cannot afford continued dependence on fossil fuels. With the current energy standard, Ohio will gradually increase it's renewable energy from less than 1% to 12.5% of the energy supply by 2025. Over time, that is tons and tons of emissions that will never enter the environment better preserving our air, water, and landscapes.

Do your part against Senate Bill 310 by telling your legislators to vote NO, if they want to act in the best interest of their constituents, instead of the best interests of a few large corporate energy companies.

Alaina McCleery, Columbus

Obama's inaction

Why stop with the Ukraine . Throughout world history , despots have undertaken expansionist policies , occupying weaker neighbor countries. Why is it so difficult for our president to recognize what is happening in eastern Europe? Or perhaps he does . Perhaps it is politically expedient to act as if he doesn't . Just as the press calls his mis-stating of facts " mis-statements " rather than lies , so does the national press not acknowledge that he knows perfectly well what has begun in the Ukraine and is incapable of acting as he should. Nations have learned throughout the years that weakness encourages aggression in totalitarian leaders. This administration has time and again shown that is unwilling (perhaps incapable ) of taking action in times of aggression by other nations.We were once known as a bastion of democracy,no longer is that true. We have become the laughing stock of what we used to call our allies.Puton won't stop at the Ukraine . Why should he ? After retaking the Baltic countries why not continue? After all aren't the Aleution islands too close for comfort in terms of a buffer zone for him. Why shouldn't Korea not be re-united under North Korea ? Wasn't Alaska once under Russian occupation. Didn't Japan prevent the Russians from taking Manchuria ?

Seems outlandish doesn't it ? But what will it take for this President to act ?

We have yet to see him admit the truth or act decisively. So Mr. Putin why stop there?

David Cooper, Hilliard

Jerrie Mock

I was delighted to read the Editorial (Honoring an adventurer) in today's Dispatch. Jerrie Mock's amazing feat 50 years ago inspired many young women, including myself. Now in April 2014 as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of that remarkable accomplishment by an extraordinary woman, many of today's young women will learn about Jerrie Mock and her dream. And--those young women will dare to be different and will be inspired to follow their hearts. I only wish that I could be around 50 years from now to witness what those young women will have accomplished in their lifetimes.

As one who has been intimately involved in the effort to place the life-size bronze statue of Jerrie Mock at Port Columbus International Airport, I should like to thank those who had the vision and the dedication to make this dream a reality--the Pilot Club of Columbus, The Columbus Foundation, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority and last, but not least, the remarkably talented sculptor--Renate Burgyan Fackler.

Jerrie Mock named her tiny plane the "Spirit of Columbus." Today, in 2014, in our community, the Spirit of Columbus is alive and well!

Shirley Brooks-Jones, Dublin

Discrimination discussion

Which of these candidates would you choose for a new leader?

Candidate A: Associates with crooked politicians and consults with astrologists. He has had two mistresses. He is also a chain smoker and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

Candidate B: He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college, and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

Candidate C: He is a decorated war hero. He is a vegetarian, does not smoke, drinks an occasional beer, and has never cheated on his wife.

This exercise demonstrates the danger of basing voting decisions on candidates’ personal history and private lives rather than on their leadership abilities. It should be remembered that what makes a good leader is the ability to lead—not his or her lifestyle.

Similarly, a good teacher is defined by their ability to teach. This is why the state school board should add “sexual orientation” to the list of attributes protected from discrimination. The committee’s recent vote of 5-2 against the addition of “sexual orientation” was disappointing.

Discrimination not only infringes upon basic human rights, but also introduces harmful inefficiencies and unnecessary costs to society. The Corporate Leavers Survey, conducted by the Level Playing Field Institute in January 2007, shows that, each year, more than 2 million professionals and managers quit their jobs due to workplace discrimination. The annual cost to businesses is estimated to be $64 billion.

The economic impact may be more severe in the field of education because of a persistent shortage in qualified teachers. The National Center for Education Statistics estimates that public schools will need approximately 350,000 new K-12 teachers by 2020 to replace retiring baby boomers.

When there is discrimination, employers restrict their hiring to a smaller pool of workers, forcing them to hire less qualified workers. This point is demonstrated by Professor Jonathan Lanning at Bryn Mawr College in his paper, “Productivity, Discrimination, and Lost Profits during Baseball’s Integration.”

A 2009 study by Gavin Ellison and Briony Gunstone on sexual orientation conducted by the United Kingdom’s Equality and Human Rights Commission found that about one third of gay men and lesbian women felt that there are some jobs they would not consider because of their sexual orientation. Many respondents said they would avoid teaching or working with children because of prejudice by the society and the media.

At the same time, there is tremendous effort to promote LGBT education to eliminate discrimination toward gay and lesbian students. However, according to the Teacher Support Network’s report, 67% of the staff in a typical school does not feel adequately prepared to teach same-sex marriage or LGBT-related issues. How can we expect children to facilitate an open and tolerant environment when adults are publicly voting against anti-discrimination policies?

The committee’s review of the standards continues. I hope it will not be long before the issue comes to the full board for a vote, especially given that Gov. John Kasich signed an executive order in 2011 protecting state workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation. I ask all parents to set aside their personal feelings so that children can learn from the best teachers.